Blaze damage to cost thousands

DAMAGE to a playground in Griffith Park that was recently set ablaze by vandals is expected to cost several thousand euro to repair.

The park, situated on the Tolka River between Glasnevin and Drumcondra, was set alight on Thursday, June 16. Damage could have been more extensive but for the quick arrival of Dublin Fire Brigade who arrived on the scene within minutes of being alerted by local residents.

Councillor Noeleen Reilly (SF) praised the fire brigade and said the damage done was totally unacceptable.

“Dublin City Council informed me that the costs of repairs in Griffith Park playground will be anywhere from €15,000 to €20,000,” she added.

“This is such a waste of taxpayers’ money.  The playground had to be closed at the weekend for safety reasons and will be for the foreseeable future.”

Cllr Reilly said anti-social behaviour had been increasing in local parks over the last number of weeks with wheelie bins consistently being robed from local homes, brought into the park and set alight.

“There have been a number of different attacks on playgrounds in parks all over Dublin North West in recent times,” she continued.

“The fact of the matter is that there is not enough security in the parks.  If someone wants to get into the park to cause trouble they will, but there is no one there to move them on.”

Cllr Reilly is calling for an increase in the number of park wardens and will be raising the issue at the next Dublin North West Joint Policing meeting.